PARTYING WITH A PAIR OF PRINCES

Just everyone wanted to hear Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, speak at the Four Arts Society two weeks ago. "We sent our invitation reply back within one hour and still didn't make the cutoff," says Tamara Newell. But she and hubby Tom Leddy went to the dinner at the Breakers in Palm Beach that night (pricey event -- $1,500 a ticket) and heard him speak there.

Protocol was that thick, of course. The prince and his son Prince Edward reigned over cocktails first, chatting with many guests. "I feel for those royals," says Newell. "What a life, meeting so many people day after day and having to be gracious to them all. I'd kill someone." The couple found both princes charming to chat with. "Prince Edward is so sincere, and he asks a lot of questions."

The dinner benefited the Congressional Youth Awards Program and Outward Bound USA. The Duke's speech focused on the need to do something positive before kids get into trouble. When there's a disaster and someone picks up the pieces, they're heroes. But these programs try to prevent disasters in the first place. No heroes. No headlines. Just positive experiences so youth won't come to trouble.

It wasn't an elaborate ball. "They wanted the money for the causes; they were very careful of costs," says Newell. (Applause for chairwoman Ann Appleman!) Prince Edward sat between his date, Alexander Harriman, and Michelle Cameron-Hayes. He danced with his date and others. And so did his royal dad -- to decorous tunes. No rocking royals at this do.

And how did the prince look? (Which one? Philip, of course. At Edward's age, everyone looks good.) "Wonderful. As good as he did years ago. Nice and slim," observed Celia Lipton Farris.

The father and son seemed to enjoy themselves. Probably the biggest laugh Prince Philip had all evening was while chatting with Farris. "I asked him if he remembered the time he took me for a ride on a bicycle in France. Before he was married, of course." The prince remembered and came as close to guffawing as princes do in public.